Tail clamp



May 9, 1933. B, w. BRocKETT TAIL CLAMP Filed May 22, 1930 Patented May9, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE J BLUFORD W. BROCKET'I, CLEVELANDHEIGHTS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR' TO THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, FNORVVOOD,` OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO TAIL CLAMP Application led May22,

over the buck and work thereon and secured toV the other side of thebuck to hold the work in 15 position. Other types have embodied aswinging carrier frame adapted to swung to such position as to place theclamping band crosswise of the buck or to such position as to remove theclamping band from the buck..

My invention contemplates the provision of a tail clamp embodying afiexible band that is normally disposed on one side of the buck in thesmallest possible space together with mechanism for projecting theflexible band laterally across the buck and the work thereon and thendrawing the band downwardly towards the buck with the least possiblelongi tudinal movement of the band to clamp the work on the buck. Italso contemplates the provision of means for drawing the band downwardlytowards the buck of such nature that the device automatically adjustsitself to work of various thicknesses thereon.

Various objects and advantageous features of my invention will beapparent from the following description and one embodiment thereof maybe seen in the acoompanymg drawing wherein similar characters ofreference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section, of one embodiment of myinvention in combination with a part of the pressing machine that isdiagrammatically shown; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device butshowing the device and operating parts as `being enclosed in a housing;and Fig. 3 is a view of the tail clamp and tail clamp housing.

50 Referring to the drawing and particularly Fig. 1 thereof, I `havediagrammatically 1930. Serial No. 454,699.

shown a pressing machine which may be of any ordinary type and whichconsists of the usual pressing table 1, buck 2, and a pressing head 3that is mounted on the' end of a supporting arm 4 which is pivotallymounted and adapted to be swung by suitable means about its pivot tobring the head 3 into and out of pressing engagement with the buck 2.

In accordance with my invention, I have provided a tail clamping deviceconsisting of a flexible band 5 that is normally disposed in a rollabout a shaft or centralcore 6 journalled in a housing 7, the housingalso covering the roll made up of the flexible band 5 and being suitablysupported on the table l by any well known means and, in this instance,by uprights 8 secured to the table at one of their ends.

The pinion gear 9 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 6 and disposed withina housing 10 in which the shaft 6 is also journalled. This pinion gearmeshes with another and larger gear 11 mounted on a shaft 12 that isalso Journalled in the housing 10, this housing being suitably supportedon the table 1, as for instance, by means of the uprights 18. The shaft12 also carries a gear 14 the purpose of which will be hereinafterapparent.

The operating means for these gears just described embodies a singlestroke piston 15 disposed within a cylinder 1G and adapted to be movedin one direction by air pressure admitted to the cylinder through theconduit 17 and in the opposite direction by means of a spring 18disposed between the upper surface of the piston l5 and the innersurface of the upright end of the cylinder 16.

As shown in 1 and 2, the piston rod 19 that forms a part of the piston15 takes, the form of a rack 20, it having gear teeth disposed thereonfor a portion of its length. This rack 2() is so disposed as to meshwith the gear 14 whereby upward or downward movement of the piston 1,5and rack 20 will cause rotation of the gears 9, 11 and 12 and aconsequent unwinding or winding up of the flexible band 5 depending onthe direction of movement of the piston and rack. It will beunderstoodthat the relative size of the gears 9, 11 and 12 may be varied asdesired to change the speed of rotation of the shaft or central bore 6about which the clamping band is normally disposed in rolled position.Air pressure is supplied to the cylinder 16 by way of the conduit 17, ashereinbeforc stated, which conduit leads from a valve 21 having anoperating handle 22 in suoli posi-V tion as to be convenient to theoperator of the press and embodying an air inlet or supply pipe 23 andan exhaust conduit 241.

Also in accordance with my invent-ion, l have provided a cylinder andpiston construction at the opposite side of the buck from the cylinderand piston construction just described and embodying a cylinder 25 yandpiston 26 that@ is adapted to be moved in one direction in the cylindersimulta neously with movement of the piston 15 by reasonof air pressurebeing suppliedl to both cylinders from the same line 17 and in theopposite directionfby means of a spring 27 that is disposed between theupper surface of the piston and the under surface of the upper end ofthecylinder 25. As shown in Fig. 1, the pistonrod 28- whichV forms apart.

ofthe piston 26 projects upwardly through the table l and is providedonits upper yend withasuitable means 29 'that may,as inA this instance,take the form of a pivoted arm c arrying a pin for engaging with anVopening or a single one of a plurality of openings inthe outer. end BGof the clamping band 5 and securing the free end of the band. It willbe-apparent that pistons 15 and 26 will be simultaneously operatedsincethey both receive air pressure from the line 11' which` supply of airpressure is controlled by the same valve 21. As also shown inFigil, thelowermost rear edge of they pressing head 3 is provided `withapprojection or; guidefl that exten-ds rearwardly and provides a guidemeans for. preventing` the clamping band 5 frompassing `upwardly pastthey rearof the pressing head and ensures that it will pass between thepressing head and the buck when it is projected outwardly fromv a slot32 in the housing 7. As shown in Fig. 3, a

stop 33 on the clamping band 5 preventstlie Y free end thereof'fromentering the housing 7.

In the operation of this device, the work to be pressed is firstplaced-upon the buck 2 whereupon the operating handle 22 of the valve-21is so moved as to supply air pressure from.v the pipe23 to the conduit17 and thereby to the cylinders 25'and 16. Such airr pressure willsimultaneously move the pistons 15 and 26 upwardly, the upward movementof the pistonl causing. rotation of the `gears 9, 11 and 12 in themanner hereinbefore described and rotation of the shaft 6 to cause Yunwinding of the clamping band '5 out Vof its the clamping band tounwind from about the shaft.

Simultaneously with the projecting of the clamping band 5 between thepressing member and buck, the iston 26 will be moving upwardly andprojecting the piston rod 28 and securing means 29..upwardly above thetable 1 in front of the buck 2.

The clamping band 5 having been projected between vthe pressing head andthe buck and the securingmeans 29fraised to its desired height theoperating handle 22 of the valve 21 may be moved to such position thatthe airpressure beneath the pistons 15 and 26 may exhaust through theconduit 17, valve 21 and exhaust conduitl 24 whereupon the springs 18and 27 will becomefeiectivetosimultaneously. move the piston rods 19 and28v downwardly.

- Such downward movement. of; the piston rod'19 will cause rotationofthe shaft 6 through the medium .ofthe rack; and gearmechanismhereinbefore describedgand winding'upof the clamping band 5 about theshaft. Likewise, downward movementof the piston 26 will cause thesecuring meansy 29v to be vmoved downwardly towards the table 1:l and,since the outermost end' 30 ofV the clamping band is secured tov thesecuring means 29, the outer endof the clampingA band will 'be draw-iidownwardly towards the buck; It will beapparentthat,suchw-inding upofthe clamping bandl 5.about`the shaft 6 and simultaneous downwardmovementof thevouterendBO of the clamping band'will draw the clampingband down against the buck and secure the work thereon.

Referring to the drawing andthe preceding description, it will be seenthat I have provided a device of thecharactcr described embodyingnumerous novel and advantageous features. vided azclamping band: thatisvnormally dis:

posed in anA out` of the way position at they rear of the Vpressing buckand so disposed,

as yto take up'thevsmallesty amount` ofV space possible, thisbeing dueto the fact that the clamping band is normally wound around the shaft 6.Anotherfadvantageous feature residesfin the fact' that If have providedmechanicalmeansgwhicln together with the nor-v mal tendency vof theclamping band to-unf windfrom--roll position, is capableof'projectingthe clamping band outwardly between the pressing head andthe buck to such position that it'may be easily-grasped bythe operatorand secured at theopposite side of the buck land across the l'workthereon whereupon the same mechanical l means will; be l effeet-.ive to'rewi-nd the clamping bandintov rolled position until it is drawndownwardly acrossthe face lof the buck; to hold theiwork thereon.

Still another ad,vantageous' feature--` of my invention resides in thefineansf provi ded for For-instance, I: have p ro-Y securing theoutermost end of the clamping band on the opposite side ot the buck fromthat in which it is normally disposed, this means being of such naturethat itis in an out of way position during the time that work is beingplaced upon the buck but moves upwardly simultaneously with the outwardmovement of the clamping band across the buck to such position that theoutermost end of the clamping band may be easily secured thereto. Afurther feature resides in the fact that means have been providedwhereby the outermost end of the clamping band will be drawn downwardlyafter being secured on the opposite side of the buck and simultaneouslywith the winding up of the other end thereof whereby the clamping bandwill be drawn lirmly downwardly upon the Work on the buck with the leastpossible longitudinal movement of the clamping band. This isadvantageous in that it prevents wrinlling and distortion of the workupon the buck when the clamping band is drawn down to locking position.

What I claim is:

l. In combination with a pressing' machine including a support, apressing buck on said support, and a movable head adapted to cooperatewith said buck, a clamping band for holding` work on said buck,mechanical means tor projecting said clamping band laterally across saidbuch, and guide means on said movable head for guiding said clampingband between said buck and said head.

2. In combination with a pressing machine `including a support, a buck,and a movable head adapted to cooperate with said buck, a clamping bandnormally disposed in reeled condition about a central core and on oneside oi said buck, mechanical means for projecting said clamping bandlaterally across said buck, and means for securing to the outer most endof said clamping band on the opposite side of said buck, and a guide onthe rearward edge of said movable member adapted to guide the free endof said clamping band between said buck and said movable member.

3. In combination with a pressing machine including a pressing bed, aclamping band for holding work on said bed and normally disposed on oneside thereof, said clamping band having a free end, means for projectingsaid clamping band laterally across said bed, means for securing thefree end of said clamping band on the opposite side oi said bed, meansfor drawing the free end of said clamping band downwardly, and means forsimultaneously drawing said clamping band laterally across said bed tothereby move said clamping band into clamping engagement with said bed.

4. In combination with a pressing machine including a pressing bed, aclamping band disposed on one side of the bed and normally in reeledcondition about a core, said clamping band having a free end, and meansfor rotating said core to project the free end of said clamping bandlaterally across said bed.

5. In combination with a pressing machine including a pressing bed, aclamping band disposed on one side of the bed and normally in reeledcondition about a core, said clamping band having a free end, and meansfor rotating said core to either project the free end of said clampingband laterally across said bed or to withdraw said clamping band to itsnormal reeled condition.

6. In combination with a pressing machine including a pressing bed, aclamping band disposed ou one side oi the bed and normally in reeledcondition about a core, said clamping band having a free end, means forrotating said core to project the free end of said clamping bandlaterally across said bed, means normally in inoperative position forsecuring the free end of said clamping band on the opposite side of saidbed, and means for projecting said securing means into operativeposition simultaneously with the projection of the free end of saidclamping band laterally across said bed.

7. In combination with a pressing machine including a pressing bed, aclamping band disposed on one side of the bed and normally in reeledcondition about a core, said clamping band having a free end, motormeans for rotating said core to project the free end of said clampingband laterally across said bed, means normally in inoperative positionfor securing the free end of said clamping band on the opposite side ofsaid bed, motor means for projecting said securing means into operativeposition, and means for moving said clamping band into clampingengagement with said bed when said motor means are rendered ineffective.

8. In combination with a pressing machine including a pressing bed, aclamping band disposed on one side of the bed and normally in reeledcondition about a core, said clamping band having a free end, motormeans for rotating said core to project the free end oi. said clampingband laterally across said bed, means normally in inoperative positionfor securing the free end of said clamping band on the opposite side ofsaid bed, motor means for projecting said securing means into operativeposition, a single control means for said two motor means whereby theyoperate simultaneously to project the free end of said clamping bandlaterally across said bed and project said securing means into operativeposition, and means for moving said clamping band into clampingengagement with said bed when said motor means are rendered ineffective.

In testimony whereof I hereby aliix my signature.

BLUFORD W. BROCKETT.

